System and method for aligning aircraft coordinate systems
AssigneeVought Aircraft Industries, Inc.
InventorsClifton D. Cunningham, James P. Koesters, Michael A. Leenhouts, Eric D. Moore
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method for aligning aircraft coordinate systems includes determining a first coordinate in the first coordinate system from a first reflector using a first coordinate positioning device, and determining second and third coordinates in the second coordinate system from second and third reflectors, respectively, using a second coordinate positioning device. The second and third reflectors are disposed at predetermined distances from the first reflector. The system aligns the first and second coordinate systems based on the first, second, and third coordinates and the predetermined distances using a processor.
Claims18
A method for aligning a structure, comprising:
- releasably securing a first reflector to the structure at a first position;
- releasably securing a second reflector to the structure at a second position a first predetermined distance from the first reflector;
- releasably securing a third reflector to the structure at a third position a second predetermined distance from the first reflector;
- locating the first reflector using a first positioning device to generate coordinates representative of the first position;
- locating the second and third reflectors using a second positioning device to generate coordinates representative of the second and third positions;
- and
- determining relative positions of the first, second and third reflectors using the first and second predetermined distances and the coordinates for the first, second and third positions generated by the first and second positioning devices.
A method for placing control points on a structure, comprising:
- releasably securing a control point fitting to a structure;
- mounting on the control point fitting a first reflector oriented to receive and reflect a signal from a first positioning device associated with a first coordinate system;
- mounting on the control point fitting a second reflector disposed a first predetermined distance from the first reflector and oriented to receive and reflect a signal from a second positioning device associated with a second coordinate system;
- and
- mounting on the control point fitting a third reflector disposed a second predetermined distance from the first reflector and oriented to receive and reflect a signal from the second positioning device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.